In between managing all the long drives to family dinners, less than perfect winter weather driving conditions, and crowded roadways and shopping mall parking lots all on top of your everyday responsibilities, the Christmas holiday season can certainly be stressful.
In general, the holiday season creates more situations on the road that can breed road rage, but regardless of your frustrations, it’s important to remember that the rules of the road still apply and to check any frustration before it manifests into dangerous and risky behaviour.
According to numbers cited by ICBC, high-risk driving behaviours contribute to 43 per cent of all crashes that result in death or injury in British Columbia. “High-risk driving behaviours” include actions like failing to yield, ignoring traffic control, following too closely or improper passing.
During my everyday commute, it’s not uncommon to see multiple cases of road rage – cases that are often caused by bad road manners. The most common example I’ve witnesses are drivers who consider themselves the “speed police” and stay in the left passing lane to hold up traffic, causing those behind to pass on the right only to speed up again to impede the other driver from passing. In British Columbia, drivers can be given a ticket for travelling in the passing lane and this kind of behaviour only annoys everyone on the road.
When you react to other drivers with the mindset to “teach them a lesson,” think again. Reacting aggressively only escalates the situation, making the road more dangerous for every driver, passenger and pedestrian.
In 2015, State Farm Canada conducted a Canadian road rage survey and found that one in three Canadians experience road rage every month. Not surprisingly, State Farm Canada also found that the most common road rage triggers were tailgating (33 per cent), others’ distracted driving (22 per cent) and being cut off (22 per cent).
The only answer to road ragers is to not engage. If you find yourself at fault, remember to still follow the rules of the road, don’t react to provocation and keep your distance from erratic drivers
If you’re a road rager, remember that you’re not the only one on the road with places to be. Try these three tips the next time you find yourself raging behind the wheel: Firstly, turn off aggressive music and instead listen to something more calming. If you know any yoga meditation tricks and deep breathing techniques, now is also the time to practice them. And lastly, if you need to cool down, really cool down by opening a window to give yourself air in an effort to remain calm while behind the wheel.
Drivers also have the option of making a driving complaint to the police. Depending on the level of severity, the police may patrol the area of your complaint and caution the bad-mannered driver if found. If you find yourself in a dangerous situation where you fear another driver will cause you bodily harm, call 911 or drive to the nearest police station.
The weather and road conditions will only worsen as we enter deeper into December and the holidays are stressful enough without adding road rage on top. Make sure everyone arrives to their destination safely this holiday season and mind your road manners.
Blair Qualey is President and CEO of the New Car Dealers Association of BC. You can email him at [email protected].
